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Eriophyllum confertiflorum

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Botanical Name:Eriophyllum confertiflorum
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Heliantheae
Genus: Eriophyllum
Species: E. confertiflorum
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales

Common Names: Golden yarrow or Yellow yarrow

Habitat :Eriophyllum confertiflorum is native to California and Baja California, and its range may extend into Arizona. It can be found in a number of plant communities and habitats.

Description;
Eriophyllum confertiflorum  is a perennial  small shrub.The plant grows in large clumps or stands of many erect stems often exceeding half a meter in height. It has greenish to gray-green stems and foliage, the leaves sharply lobed and divided. The top of each stem is occupied by an inflorescence of up to 30 flower heads, each bright golden yellow head with a large center of disc florets and usually a fringe of rounded to oval ray florets. The fruit is an achene with a very short pappus.
click & see the pictures

Its flowers are  bright yellow and bloom  in early summer, does best with full sun, a little summer water, good drainage, excellent with Penstemons. Cold tolerant to 5 deg.F. or less. This one is ‘highly variable’ which means if you do not specify the site, you’ll get a funny looking plant. Munz separated out E.confertiflorum var. laxiflorum a sub-species with narrower stems and leaves. In reality, the northern form of E.confertiflorum is green and 2′, the central Calif. form is gray and 1′, the S. Calif. form is 2′ ft. and gray.

Medicinal Uses;
Delfina Cuero, a Kumeyaay or Southern Diegueno Indian, made the following comments about Eriophyllum confertiflorum in her autobiography:  ” This is used for someone with pimples on their face.  They were told to boil the whole plant and wash face in water to clear away the pimples”.  The woolly fuzz that densely coves the leaves and stems was collected by Native Americans and used as a cure for rheumatism.

Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriophyllum_confertiflorum
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/eriophyllum-confertiflorum
http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_UZ.htm

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Herbs & Plants

Dipsacus pilosus

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Botanical Name : Dipsacus pilosus
Family: Dipsacaceae
Genus: Dipsacus
Species: D. pilosus
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Dipsacales

Common Names:Small Teasel,Shepherd’s Rod

Vernacular names: English: Small Teasel · Deutsch: Behaarte Karde · Français: Cardère velue ·

Habitat :Dipsacus pilosus is  native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa.

Description:
Dipsacus is a genus of flowering plant in the family Dipsacaceae. The genus includes about 15 species of tall herbaceous biennial plants (rarely short-lived perennial plants) growing to 1-2.5 m tall,
CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Although still a tall plant it is altogether much daintier and is less sharply prickly, the tips of the bristles ending in soft hairs.
Blooming from July to September, the flowers are white with violet anthers and woolly spines. Out of each of the tiny, funnel shaped, four-lobed corollas protrude four little stamens making the flower resemble a tiny little round pincushion. Below the 15 to 20mm (6 to 8in), globe shaped flowerheads are bristly linear bracts which form a little collar or ruff.

Cultivation:
Teasel is a biennial plant; it germinates in its first year, and flowers in its second. The first year it appears as a rosette of spine-coated leaves, which die in the second year as energy is diverted to growing the tall stem.
Although often found amongst tall vegetation the seeds of small teasel require the soil to be disturbed for germination. It therefore requires a habitat subject to occasional management if it is to persist, if the soil isn’t disturbed, collect seeds in the autumn and re-sow.

Medicinal Uses:
The root is bitter and, given in strong infusion, it strengthens the stomach and creates an appetite.  It is also a liver tonic.  It is not much used because it is not often found, growing only in scattered areas. The Common Teasel has similar virtues.

Other Uses:
Leave the stems to shed their seeds naturally then cut and hang upside down. The flowers will last for many years if dried correctly.

Borders and Beds, Flower arranging, Wildlife and Wildflower Gardens.
The seeds are an important winter food resource for some birds, notably the European Goldfinch; teasels are often grown in gardens and encouraged on nature reserves to attract them.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipsacus_pilosus
http://www.seedaholic.com/dipsacus-pilosus.html
http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/dipsacus.htm
http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_RST.htm

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